Automobile-lock.



P. 0. ULRICH.

AUTOMOBILE LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED Jmm, 1914.

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m w m 1% V 0 V H R A w M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS 0. ULRICH, 0F 'I 'AMAQUA. PENNSYLVANIA.

noroueninn-neex,

Specification 0,1?- Letters Patent.

Yatented May 19, 1914.

Application filed January 6, 1914. Serial No. 810,574.

My i venti n i an improv m nt i 1 m" IlQbilQ helm, and has for its object to pro vide a device of the ch ra r p cifi d,

adapted for use i connec ion with he ring whee .of an aut mo ile for permitt ng the said Wheel'to be locked to the beering post sleeve, to prevent unauthorized inter ference with the said wheel during the ab.- sence of the owner, end wherein a, bolt is provided moun ed on th wheel an mo a le tow rd and from the b aring p st sleeve, together with means for holding the bnlt inoperative or inoperative position.

In the" drawings :Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a ste ring wheel provided with the improved'lock, Figs. Z-end 3 are sections on the line 2--2 and 33, respectively, of Fig.v 1, and Fig. 4 is a section on th li 4% of Fig. 3, Figs. 2, 3 and 4 looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent to the respective lines.

The present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with a steering wheel of usual form, and having a rim 1, a hub 2, and spokes 3, connecting the hub to the rim. The wheel is secured to the upperend of the steering post 4 in any suitable or desired manner and the post is mounted in the hearing sleeve 5.

A casing 6 is mnunted on one of the spokes of the steering wheel, the said casing in the present instance, being integral with the spoke, and depending below the same, and within the casing is mounted a bolt 7, the said bolt being movable toward and from the bearing sleeve 5. The casing is longitudinally slotted on its under side as indiceted at 8, and a button connected with the bolt extends through the slot to permit the bolt to be moved toward and from the beering sleeve. In the present instance the button is a set screw 9, which is threaded into the under side of the bolt, and the head of the screw extends through the slot 8 topermit its engegement'by the finger of the operator or driver.

At the upper side of the interior of the casing, a recess 10 is provided, the said reo hold the bo -from being adapted to receive an arched p ing whose ends ar pon th upper ade t th bel an who e bo y engages he h tern of th re ess: The spring is ep ed t h d th l aga n a ciden -a1 m ement, and exerts only pressure enoughmovement by gravity,

or from jolt or-jar. The bolt is also provided in its upper-face with two recesses 12 and 12, respectively, and. h Said recesses a e ad pt d fo engagement by a locking bolt 13, which is mounted in a recess 14; ex.- ending up ar ly fr m. the casing 6- The ecess l4 opens at the side of the integral connect on 15 between the casing 6 and the spoke 3, by means of an opening 16, and the -lock proper is arranged in the said open- Th lock 17 is of any desired form, being cylindricgl in the present instance, and the key hole 18 is mounted in a cylindrical tumbler 19, which is arranged to rotate in the lock 17. The key 20 is introduced in the key hole and turned, to lift the locking bolt 13 out of engagement with the recesses 12 end 2*.

The spring 11 is of sufficient width to ex.- tend across the adjacent recess 12 and the inner end of the locking bolt 7 is provided with teeth as shown at 21. A ring 22 is keyed 011 to the upper end of the bearing sleeve .5, by means of a key 23, and the said ring is provided with teeth for coiiperotion with the teeth 21 of the locking bolt. The ring 22 is provided with a series of radial teeth which cover more than one-half the circumference of the ring, so that the bolt may engage the teeth whatever the position of the steering wheel.

In use, when the machine is running, the bolt 7 is 111 the position of Figs. 1 end 2, that is, in retracted position and the locking bolt 13 holds the bolt 17 in the said position. When the machine is stopped, and the driver desires to leave the same, the front wheels are turned at an angle either toward the curb or toward the road, and the bar or bolt 7 is moved into the position of Figs. 3 and 4:, that is, to cause the teeth 21 to engage the teeth of the ring -22. The key is 110W turned to move the locking bolt 13 into engagement with the recess 12 and the key is removed from the lock. The machine in this condition cannot be tampered with, since it will be impossible to guide the same. To release the lock it is only necessary to lift the locking bolt and a spring 13 out of engagement with the recess 12. The bar or bolt 17 is now moved into the position of Figs. 1 and 2 by means of the button 9, and the locln'n'g bolt 13 is operated to engage the recess 12. The bolt or bar 7 is now locked out of engagement with the teeth of the ring 22. 7

I claim 1. In an automobile, the combination with the steering wheel and the steering post bearing sleeve, of a ring keyed to the said sleeve near the wheel and provided with a series of radial teeth, the Wheel having an integral casing below the wheel and extending radially to the ring, and open at the end adjacent to the ring, a bolt in the casing and having teeth for engaging the teeth ofthe ring and movable in the casing into and out oi engagement with the said teeth, said bolt having longitudinally spaced recesses in its upper face and the casing having a recess with which therecesses of the bolt are adapted to register when the bolt is in engagement with the ring and out of engagement therewith, a locking bolt movable in the recess of the casing for engaging the recesses of the bolt, and a lock in connection with the recess of the casing and having a key hole for engagement by a key to raise and lower the locking bolt,

engaging the bolt for preventing accidental movement thereof, the bolt having means extending beyond the casing for manually moving the same.

2. In an automobile, the combination with the steering wheel and the steering post bearing sleeve, of a ring keyed to the said sleeve near the wheel and provided with a series of radial teeth, the wheel having an integral casing below the wheel and extending radially to the ring, and open at the end adjacent to the ring, a bolt in the casing and having teeth for engaging the teeth of the rin and movable in the casin into and out 0% engagement with the said teeth, said bolt having longitudinally spaced recesses in its upper face and the casing having a recess with which the recesses of the bolt are adapted to register when the bolt is in engagement with the ring and out of engagement therewith, a locking bolt movable in the recess of the casing for engaging the recesses of the bolt, and a lock in connection with the recess of the casing, and having a key hole for engagement by a key to raise and lower the locking bolt, and a spring engaging the bolt for preventing accidental movement thereof.

3. In an automobile, the combination with the steering wheel and the steering post bearing sleeve, of a ring keyed to the said sleeve near thewheel and provided with a series of radial teeth, the wheel having an integral casing below the wheel and extending radially to the ring, and open at the recesses for engagement a key hole end adjacent to the ring, a bolt in the casing and having teeth for engaging the teeth of the ring and mov"*ole in the easing into and out of engagement with the said teeth, said bolt having longitudinally spaced recesses in its upper face-and the casing havin a recess with which the recesses of the b0 t are adapted to register when the bolt is in engagement with the ring and out of engagement therewith, a locking bolt mov-' able in the recess of the casing for engaging therecesses of the bolt, and a lock in connection with the recess of the casing, and. having a key hole' for engagement by a key to raise and lower the locking bolt.

4. In an automobile, the combination with the steering wheel and the steering post bearing sleeve, of a ring provided with a series of radial teeth keyed to the post adj acent to the Wheel, the wheel having a casing extending radially with respect to the ring, a bolt in the casing having teeth for engaging the teeth of'the ring, and movable toward and from the ring, the bolt having manually operated means extending beyond the casing for moving the same into and out of operative position, a lock in connection with the steering wheel and having a key hole for engagement by a key to operate the lock, a locking bolt in connection with the lock and moved thereby, the bolt having by the locking bolt to hold the bolt in operative and inoperative position.

5. In an automobile, the combination with the steering wheel and the steering post bearing sleeve, of a ring provided with a series of radial teeth keyed to the post adjacent to the wheel, the wheel having a casing extending radially with respect to the ring, a bolt in the casing having teeth for engaging the teeth of the ring, and movable toward and from the ring, a lock in connectionwith the steering wheel and having for engagement by'a key to operate the lock, and a locking bolt in connection' with the lock and moved thereby, the bolt having recesses for engagement by the locking bolt to hold the bolt in operative and inoperative position.

6. I11 an automobile, the combination with the steering wheel and the steering post bearing sleeve, of a ring provided with a series of radial teeth keyed to the post adjacent' to the wheel, the wheel having a casing extending radially with respect to the ring, a bolt in the casing having teeth for engaging the teeth of the ring, and movable toward and from the ring, a lock in connection with the steering wheel and having means for engaging the'bolt to hold the same in operative and inoperative position.

7. In an automobile, the combination with the steering wheel and the steering post bearing sleeve, of a ring for connection with and a lock in connection with the bolt for the post ad aceHt to the Wheel and provided the purpose specified.

with radial teeth a bolt supported on the Wheel for movemhnt toward and from the FRANCIS ULRICH 5 ring and adapted to engage between the W1tnesses:

teeth of the ring to lock the Wheel with re- J O. ULRICH,

spect to the post in any desired position, 0. E. SITLER. 

